Cats with a healthy weight are happier, more agile, and tend to live longer. Obesity, often considered 20% or more above normal body weight, is the most common nutritional disorder in domestic cats, and in many cases, it is preventable!
Why Is a Healthy Weight Important for Your Cat?
Obesity leads to a decrease in quality of life. Overweight cats tend to have less physical interaction with their family members and are often less energetic, less playful, and more lethargic.
They may also be at increased risk of a variety of serious health problems, including the following.
- Arthritis (weight gain puts an undue burden on joints, tendons and ligaments).
- Diseases of the urological system
- Kidney disease
- Heart disease
- Chronic inflammation
- High blood pressure (increases the burden on the heart)
- Diabetes (because the body’s need for insulin exceeds the body’s ability to produce or use insulin)
- Difficulty breathing (fat in the chest and abdomen can limit the ability of the lungs to expand)
- Weakened immune function
- Constipation and gas
- Skin infections
- Some cancers are even associated with obesity
Causes of Obesity in Cats
Similar to humans, there are a variety of causes and factors that contribute to obesity in cats, and it’s not always as simple as overfeeding. Before embarking on a weight loss program, it is important to determine if there is an underlying underlying medical cause for obesity.
Some common causes of obesity in cats may include one or more of the following:
- Overfeeding
- Genetics
- Sedentary activity level/lack of exercise
- Sterilization or sterilization
- Unhealthy eating habits
- Hypothyroidism
- Some medications
- Cushing’s disease
- Diabetes
- Pressure
- Pain
How to Help Your Cat Lose Weight?
Managing a cat’s weight loss program often involves a multifaceted approach, often in collaboration with a veterinary professional.
A healthy plan will not provide any quick fixes, but will require you to adjust your daily routine, both inside and outside the house, to best support your cat. Some of the top tips to help your cat lose weight are detailed below.
1. Rule out underlying health conditions
The most important aspect of any weight loss journey is to first determine if there are any underlying health conditions that could be contributing to your cat’s weight gain. It is essential to rule out, identify, and treat problems associated with weight gain.
2. Listen to the advice of your veterinarian
If you don’t notice that your cat has gained a few pounds here and there, don’t be offended if your veterinarian comments during the annual check-up that they need to lose a few pounds. Your veterinarian knows what they’re talking about, and you should listen to their advice.
If there is no obvious underlying cause for your cat’s weight gain, your veterinarian will usually recommend that you take an overall weight loss recommendation gradually. In extreme cases, they may recommend a special prescription weight loss diet. It may also be recommended to weigh yourself regularly in the clinic to monitor progress.
3. Think about what you’re feeding your cat
The quality of over-the-counter cat food varies widely. Some may contain unnecessary added sugars, while others are particularly high in fat.
Canned food is lower in calories than dry whole grains, contains a lot of water, and is easier for cats to digest, and many cats like to eat it. As part of this program, some owners choose to switch to a larger percentage of wet food instead of dry food. Over-the-counter diet foods are also available in pet stores. These aren’t designed to work wonders, and quantities still need to be measured, but they can help a little.
Take a look at the food you’re currently feeding your cat and change it gradually if you find that it’s not as healthy as you thought it would be. Your veterinarian or qualified pet nutritionist can provide additional advice if needed.
4. Measure your cat’s daily food intake
A common cause of overweight cats is overfeeding. A good place to start is to measure your daily intake with a cup or scale.
Transition from free feeding, where food is always left outside, to a gradual shift to regular feeding. When there is a bowl of bottomless food, you can’t monitor how much each cat eats. It may seem convenient at first glance, but it is the main cause of obesity.
As you transition from ad libitum feeding to more frequent, more scheduled, smaller meals, and announce it loudly at mealtime, so the kitten can get used to the new habits. You can also consider using an automatic feeder to dispense rations of food at pre-programmed times.
It’s also helpful to create a separate feeding station for your cat. Cats don’t like to eat together very much, resource conservation issues may arise, and mealtime shouldn’t be a stressful experience.
5. Plan your daily playtime to increase your workout
In addition to monitoring calorie intake and providing quality nutrition, exercise is essential for a cat’s healthy weight. There are plenty of options, such as cat gym wheels, that can encourage your cat to exercise – even if they don’t venture outdoors.
Exercising a cat’s desire to prey through interactive games is an important part of cat development and is of great help to improve the quality of life of cats. It’s also a great way to exercise your cat.
Scheduled playtime takes place at the same hour or two hours each day, providing structure and a consistent schedule for your cat. It’s a good idea to have a variety of interactive toys available at all times, some of which are reserved specifically for play.
Two or three wand or mouse rope toys that appear only during these periods will help keep them novel and fun. These are great for simulating prey and help bring out the cat’s natural drives.
It is very important to allow your cat to “catch” its prey while playing. Otherwise, they will get frustrated and either stop playing with you or respond to her unfulfilled urges. If you’re playing with a laser pointer, be sure to play with the kitten with some toys that she can catch too.
6. Use puzzle toys and feeders
Puzzle feeders help slow the appetite of gluttonous people, prevent boredom, and can provide an extra workout. They allow cats to forage and “find” for food, allowing them to eat more instinctively.
You can buy a variety of cat food dispensing toys or even make your own. Start with simple puzzles and work your way up to more difficult types depending on your cat’s preferences.
Some simple DIY puzzle feeding options include:
- Paper bag: Place catnip, catnip-covered toy mice, snacks, or dry whole grains in your lunch bag. Your cat can explore, pounce, and kill (destroy the bag). It’s a great hidden space and a fun toy at the same time.
- Inside the tissue roll: Cut the tissue roll in half, fold the ends together, and cut a few holes from small to large. Then you can put dry food or low-fat food in it. As your cat starts using these things more, cut smaller holes to make them more challenging.
- Water bottle: Take an empty water bottle, remove the wrapper, cut a few holes from small to large, and add some snacks. You can open or close the lid to increase the difficulty of this DIY puzzle toy.
7. Assess progress regularly
Record food intake (including all snacks), exercise, and weekly weight. Weigh your cat on the same scale at the same time of day every week. Sometimes it’s helpful to plot this information (date and weight) on a chart.
Keep in mind that you may experience a “plateau” when your cat seems to be stuck in a certain weight. This is very common. Don’t despair, go ahead with a weight loss plan and make sure no one is “cheating” at home.
The typical minimum weight loss for a healthy adult is 0.5 pounds per month. Ideally, your cat will lose nearly a pound per month. Some cats may need to slow down their weight, while others may need to lose weight faster.
8. Don’t give in to begging
Changes should be gradual and at a pace that your cat feels comfortable with, but sometimes feeding a little less may cause your cat to make noises and beg for food with other attention-seeking behaviors.
If you follow a weight loss plan correctly, your cat has access to plenty of fresh water, and there are no underlying health issues, then it’s important not to give in. Remember, you are ultimately doing this to improve your cat’s overall health, health, and quality of life.